The space shuttle Discovery rolls out to the launch pad after two months of delays.
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Courtesy of NASA
Discover Heads to Launch Pad Just in Time
News story originally written on November 15, 1999
Finally, after two months of delays, the space shuttle Discovery is on the launch pad.
Wiring problems and other difficulties have set back the initial launch date to December 6th.
Now that the shuttle is on the launch pad, NASA is in final preparations before the launch.
"We are in the business of launching shuttles," NASA spokesman Joel Wells said.
"Although everyone at Kennedy knows that safety is first, it is good to see vehicles
moving around, because that is the business that we are in."
The good news couldn't have come at a better time. The Hubble Space Telescope is now facing
problems that would not have occurred if the shuttle had launched on time. The telescope has 6 gyros, which keep
the spacecraft in position for measurements. Four of these gyros have malfunctioned, forcing the Hubble
into safe mode. This means that it can no longer be used for observations until it is fixed.
"The telescope is in good shape, we're getting telemetry and everything else is
showing good indications that the spacecraft is in good health," said Don
Savage from NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Although the telescope is not in any danger, scientists will lose 6 weeks of information. NASA believes
that after astronauts fix the Hubble, it should be ready for use in January.
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